Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs for his fifth multi-homer game this season, powering the Chicago Cubs past the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Thursday. Crow-Armstrong, whose first-half breakout earned him a starting spot for the National League All-Star team,

Armstrong homered twice as the Twins were blown out by the NL Central-leading Cubs on Thursday at Target Field.

It started to look like batting practice for the Cubs with the way they were consistently barreling up the ball.

Chicago Cubs (54-38, first in the NL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (45-47, third in the AL Central) Minneapolis; Thursday, 12:10 p.m. CDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Colin Rea (6-3, 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP,

In the Cubs’ 8-1 win Thursday, Rea held the Twins to three hits and one run through seven innings. He not only set the team up to avoid a sweep in Minnesota but also gave the bullpen rest going into a three-game series against the Yankees that’s expected to open with a bullpen day.

Simeon Woods Richardson outpitched Shota Imanaga with five scoreless innings, and the Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 8-1 on Tuesday night.

On Sunday, the Twins will add the next wave of talent to the organization when the draft begins, making their first selection at No. 16 overall with another pick coming at No. 36 overall, a Competitive Balance Round A selection.

The Twins have four wins over their past seven games, and it’s been fun. The team's bats have picked up momentum. Needless to say, the Twins are fun to watch again—at least for now.

The Twins had added another run before that, on a Matt Wallner home run in the second, so when the fourth began it was 3-0 Twins. Then this happened [VIDEO]. The second was June 23-24 at St. Louis. The Cubs won the third game there, then a fourth game as well, shutting out the Cardinals in both.

Buxton collected hits in the first, second and third innings against the Pirates before going yard in the seventh